Morgan a versatile breed

The horses can compete in reining, show jumping and endurance riding

Grand Cru Chimay, left and her filly Grand Cru Happy Hour run in their paddock at Cheri Barber Stable in Reddick on July 5, 2013. The Morgan is a versatile and sensible breed that competes in driving and a variety of other competitions.

Alan Youngblood/Staff photographer

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Editor’s note: This is part of a continuing series about the various equine breeds in Marion County.

When Carol Hudson first saw the high-stepping Morgan at a horse show when she was in college, she knew she had found the breed she wanted to work with exclusively.

“They were so elegant. They looked so fancy trotting, and they could do western, dressage and jump. They were just so pretty,” said Hudson, who started Treble’s Morgan Manor, a Morgan breeding facility in Ocala, in the 1980s.

The breed’s high step is a natural gait, which has been developed further through selective breeding.

“We breed for beauty. We breed for a very high foot. I have pictures of babies in the pasture stepping like that on their own,” Hudson said.

Morgans are one of the oldest breeds developed in North America. They were highly regarded by the military and were used by both sides during the U.S. Civil War. Before automobiles, they were the preferred coach horse and also were used in harness racing.

“Back in the old days, you could work them during the week and have them take you to church on Sunday,” Hudson said.

The breed was so well regarded that the U.S. government established its own breeding program to preserve the strain. After more than 40 years, the herd was turned over to the University of Vermont.

Private breeders continued refining the breed to bring out their more elegant and athletic side. It became a versatile breed that now competes in varied events, including reining, show jumping and endurance riding.

“They are a fun breed. You can use them to trail ride or take them on a 100-mile endurance ride,” Hudson said.

Cheri Barber, who owns Cheri Barber Stables in Reddick, was hooked on the Morgan breed after she moved to Ocala to work with Hudson.

“I graduated from the University of Miami and decided to train horses full time, which wasn’t well received by my parents. But I rented a couple of stalls from Carol and moved up here in 1981 or ’82. I became enamored with the breed after I moved to Ocala,” Barber said.

For Barber, it is the breed’s personality that sealed the deal for her.

“They know they are on stage at a show. You can see them react to the crowd. A Morgan show is different than most other horse shows. People go crazy — screaming and yelling. It’s like a rock concert, and the horses really feed off of that,” she said. “They have a presence about them in the ring that other breeds do not.”

When Barber arrived here, the area was much different.

“We were really in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing around. We had to drive in to Pine Avenue in Ocala to buy groceries. It’s changed a lot,” Barber said.

Hudson said she chose to move to Ocala because, despite the lack of some amenities, the area was a horse mecca.

“If I was going to raise horses, I wanted to be in an area that had the best vets and blacksmiths. That’s why I moved to Ocala. This is the most wonderful place I’ve ever lived. I never want to go anywhere else,” she said.

Barber eventually purchased Hudson’s original farm and now stands several stallions, including Hudson’s. Hudson moved to a smaller property, where she has her broodmares and babies.

While she has slowed down some after nearly 40 years of working with Morgans, Hudson is still enchanted by the breed.

“When I look out and see the way they hold their heads up and pick their legs up like that, it gives me the chills,” she said.

<p><b>Editor's note:</b> <i> This is part of a continuing series about the various equine breeds in Marion County.</i></p><p>When Carol Hudson first saw the high-stepping Morgan at a horse show when she was in college, she knew she had found the breed she wanted to work with exclusively.</p><p>“They were so elegant. They looked so fancy trotting, and they could do western, dressage and jump. They were just so pretty,” said Hudson, who started Treble's Morgan Manor, a Morgan breeding facility in Ocala, in the 1980s.</p><p>The breed's high step is a natural gait, which has been developed further through selective breeding.</p><p>“We breed for beauty. We breed for a very high foot. I have pictures of babies in the pasture stepping like that on their own,” Hudson said.</p><p>Morgans are one of the oldest breeds developed in North America. They were highly regarded by the military and were used by both sides during the U.S. Civil War. Before automobiles, they were the preferred coach horse and also were used in harness racing.</p><p>“Back in the old days, you could work them during the week and have them take you to church on Sunday,” Hudson said.</p><p>The breed was so well regarded that the U.S. government established its own breeding program to preserve the strain. After more than 40 years, the herd was turned over to the University of Vermont.</p><p>Private breeders continued refining the breed to bring out their more elegant and athletic side. It became a versatile breed that now competes in varied events, including reining, show jumping and endurance riding.</p><p>“They are a fun breed. You can use them to trail ride or take them on a 100-mile endurance ride,” Hudson said.</p><p>Cheri Barber, who owns Cheri Barber Stables in Reddick, was hooked on the Morgan breed after she moved to Ocala to work with Hudson.</p><p>“I graduated from the University of Miami and decided to train horses full time, which wasn't well received by my parents. But I rented a couple of stalls from Carol and moved up here in 1981 or '82. I became enamored with the breed after I moved to Ocala,” Barber said.</p><p>For Barber, it is the breed's personality that sealed the deal for her.</p><p>“They know they are on stage at a show. You can see them react to the crowd. A Morgan show is different than most other horse shows. People go crazy — screaming and yelling. It's like a rock concert, and the horses really feed off of that,” she said. “They have a presence about them in the ring that other breeds do not.”</p><p>When Barber arrived here, the area was much different.</p><p>“We were really in the middle of nowhere. There was nothing around. We had to drive in to Pine Avenue in Ocala to buy groceries. It's changed a lot,” Barber said.</p><p>Hudson said she chose to move to Ocala because, despite the lack of some amenities, the area was a horse mecca.</p><p>“If I was going to raise horses, I wanted to be in an area that had the best vets and blacksmiths. That's why I moved to Ocala. This is the most wonderful place I've ever lived. I never want to go anywhere else,” she said.</p><p>Barber eventually purchased Hudson's original farm and now stands several stallions, including Hudson's. Hudson moved to a smaller property, where she has her broodmares and babies.</p><p>While she has slowed down some after nearly 40 years of working with Morgans, Hudson is still enchanted by the breed.</p><p>“When I look out and see the way they hold their heads up and pick their legs up like that, it gives me the chills,” she said.</p>